Property sketching method and tools

Abstract

A method, system, and device for sketching a property are provided. The method may include presenting a video image of a property, enabling a selection of a plurality of features of interest associated with the property such as for example property exterior corners, interior corners, or interior walls via a user interface, tracking a motion of the communication device as the communication device travels between adjacent features of interest in the plurality of features of interest, and recording a location associated with each of the plurality of features of interest upon receiving the selection of each of the plurality of features of interest. The method may also include generating a first instance of a sketch of the property and providing the first instance of the sketch of the property to post-processing functionality that normalizes anomalies and/or reconciles features in the first instance of the sketch of the property.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for sketching a property, the method comprising:
 presenting, via a user interface of a communication device, a video image of a property;   enabling a selection of a plurality of features of interest associated with the property via the user interface;   tracking a motion of the communication device as the communication device travels between adjacent features of interest in the plurality of features of interest;   recording a location associated with each of the plurality of features of interest upon receiving the selection of each of the plurality of features of interest;   determining a distance between at least two features of interest in the plurality of features of interest based on the motion of the communication device; and   based on the location associated with each of the plurality of features of interest and based on the distance between the at least two features of interest, generating a first instance of a sketch of the property.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the first instance of the sketch of the property to post-processing functionality that normalizes anomalies and/or reconciles features in the first instance of the sketch of the property;   receiving, from the post-processing functionality, a second instance of the sketch of the property, wherein the second instance of the sketch of the property is more accurate as compared to the first instance of the sketch of the property; and   presenting the second instance of the sketch of the property via the user interface of the communication device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of the features of interest comprises a corner of the property. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 presenting, over the video image of the property, a feature indicator that is overlaid on the corner of the property.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a position of the feature indicator is determined by at least one of a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor and photogrammetry. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the feature indicator is overlaid on the corner of the property substantially simultaneous with receiving the selection of the corner. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 referencing at least one of a compass and a motion sensor of the communication device to determine the distance between the at least two features of interest in the plurality of features of interest.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the motion sensor comprises an inertial motion sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 referencing a Global Positioning System (GPS) of the communication device to determine the distance between the at least two features of interest in the plurality of features of interest.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the first instance of the sketch of the property to post-processing functionality that normalizes anomalies and/or reconciles the features in the first instance of the sketch of the property according to an order in which each of the plurality of features of interest are recorded. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of features of interest comprises at least one of a corner and a perimeter wall. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the first instance of the sketch of the property to post-processing functionality that normalizes anomalies and/or reconciles the features in the first instance of the sketch of the property using at least one of an averaging function and a centering function. 
     
     
         13 . A communication device, comprising:
 a camera;   a user interface;   one or more sensors;   a processor coupled with the camera, the user interface, and the one or more processors; and   computer memory coupled with the processor, wherein the computer memory comprises instructions stored thereon that, when processed by the processor, enable the processor to:
 present, via the user interface, a video image of a property captured by the camera; 
 enable a selection of a plurality of features of interest associated with the property via the user interface; 
 track a motion of the communication device using the one or more sensors as the communication device travels between adjacent features of interest in the plurality of features of interest; 
 record a location associated with each of the plurality of features of interest upon receiving the selection of each of the plurality of features of interest; 
 determine a distance between at least two features of interest in the plurality of features of interest based on the motion of the communication device; and 
 based on the location associated with each of the plurality of features of interest and based on the distance between the at least two features of interest, generate a first instance of a sketch of the property. 
   
     
     
         14 . The communication device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further enabled to:
 provide the first instance of the sketch of the property to post-processing functionality that normalizes anomalies and/or reconciles features in the first instance of the sketch of the property.   
     
     
         15 . The communication device of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further enabled to:
 receive, from the post-processing functionality, a second instance of the sketch of the property, wherein the second instance of the sketch of the property is more accurate as compared to the first instance of the sketch of the property; and   present the second instance of the sketch of the property via the user interface.   
     
     
         16 . The communication device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of features of interest comprises a corner of the property and wherein the processor is further enabled to:
 presenting, over the video image of the property, a feature indicator that is overlaid on the corner of the property.   
     
     
         17 . The communication device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor and/or a light sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The communication device of  claim 16 , wherein the feature indicator is overlaid on the corner of the property substantially simultaneous with receiving the selection of the corner. 
     
     
         19 . The communication device of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises at least one of a compass and a motion sensor. 
     
     
         20 . A method for sketching a property, the method comprising:
 presenting, via a user interface of a communication device, a video image of a property;   enabling a selection of a plurality of features of interest associated with the property via the user interface;   tracking a motion of the communication device as the communication device travels between adjacent features of interest in the plurality of features of interest;   recording a location associated with each of the plurality of features of interest upon receiving the selection of each of the plurality of features of interest;   determining a dimension for the property based on the motion of the communication device between the selection of each of the plurality of features of interest; and   based on the determined dimension, generating a first instance of a sketch of the property.